Evaluación citogenética en parejas con esterilidad e infertilidad que concurren al Departamento de Genética del Instituto de Investigaciones en Ciencias de la Salud de la Universidad Nacional de Asunción en el periodo septiembre 2021- febrero 2022

La prevalencia de la infertilidad no posee datos muy exactos y varía en cada región, pero se estima que aproximadamente entre un 10 a 20% de las parejas experimentan algún problema de fertilidad durante su vida reproductiva. Según la Organización Mundial de la Salud (OMS), entre 48 millones de parejas y 186 millones de personas padecen de trastornos reproductivos en todo el mundo. El objetivo de este estudio fue la evaluación citogenética en parejas con esterilidad e infertilidad que concurrieron al Departamento de Genética del Instituto de Investigaciones en Ciencias de la Salud de la Universidad Nacional de Asunción (IICS-UNA) en el periodo septiembre 2021 a febrero 2022. Dicha evaluación citogenética fue realizada en muestras de 19 parejas mediante el análisis microscópico de 30 metafases por paciente. Se identificaron anomalías cromosómicas en algunas parejas estudiadas, se encontraron tres anomalías cromosómicas estructurales y varios polimorfismos o variantes cromosómicas. En el 63% de los individuos estudiados se observó un cariotipo normal, en el 8% alteraciones cromosómicas y en el 29% variantes cromosómicas. De las anomalías cromosómicas encontradas, las deleciones y translocaciones observadas se relacionan con una producción de gametos desequilibrados, dando lugar a abortos espontáneos y a la imposibilidad de concebir; en las parejas con cariotipo normal, se identificaron factores de riesgo como la edad, hábitos tóxicos como el consumo de tabaco, y enfermedades de base.

The prevalence of infertility does not have very exact data and varies in each region, but it is estimated that approximately 10 to 20% of couples experience some fertility problem during their reproductive life. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), between 48 million couples and 186 million people suffer from reproductive disorders worldwide. The objective of this study was the cytogenetic evaluation in couples with sterility and infertility who attended the Genetics Department of the Health Sciences Research Institute of the National University of Asunción (IICS-UNA) from September 2021 to February 2022. The cytogenetic evaluation was carried out in samples from 19 couples, through the microscopic analysis of 30 metaphases per patient. Chromosomal abnormalities were identified in some couples studied, three structural chromosomal abnormalities and several polymorphisms or chromosomal variants were found. A normal karyotype was found in 63% of the couples studied, chromosomal abnormalities in 8%, and chromosomal variants in 29%. Of the chromosomal abnormalities found, the deletions and translocations observed are related to unbalanced gamete production, leading to spontaneous abortions; in couples with a normal karyotype, risk factors such as age, toxic habits such as consumption of tobacco, and underlying diseases were identified.

Autonomic stress response of physiotherapy student in the different scenarios of an objective structured clinical examination.

The aim of the present research was to analyse modifications in the autonomic stress response of Physiotherapy students undergoing a 12-scenario Objective Structured Clinical Evaluation (OSCE). A total of 86 last year students of the Physiotherapy bachelor's degree (27.29 years (SD = 6.66); 36 females and 50 males) randomly assigned were monitored during the complete OSCE to measure heart rate variability (HRV) in temporal, frequency, and non-linear domains. The HRV analysed showed a large anticipatory stress response of students maintained during the entire evaluation. The stress response varied regarding OSCE station complexity and demands and the highest sympathetic response was not found in higher emotional scenarios.The autonomic modulation monitoring allows teachers to design OSCE scenarios more adapted to the students, limiting the effect of the stress response to allow a better performance.

The Effect of Studying a Double Degree in the Psychophysiological Stress Response in the Bachelor's Thesis Defense.

The aim of this research was to analyze the effect of studying a single or double degree in the psychophysiological stress response and academic performance of university students in their bachelor's thesis defense. We analyzed the autonomic stress response, cortical arousal, subjective distress perception, and the sense of objective and subjective academic fulfilment of 84 single-degree physiotherapy students and 26 double-degree sport sciences and physiotherapy students during their bachelor's thesis defense. The results showed that the bachelor's thesis defense was a stressful event for double-degree students, showing an activation of the sympathetic nervous system and presenting a higher autonomic habituation response for the double degree students compared to the single degree students. We found higher mean grades during the whole degree and higher grades in the written and oral bachelor's thesis academic achievements for single-degree students compared to double-degree students. No significant differences were found between single-degree and double-degree students in subjective distress perception and cortical arousal. No correlation was found between academic performance variables and subjective distress perception, cortical arousal, and autonomic modulation variables. We conclude that the bachelor's thesis defense produces a large anticipatory anxiety response in single-degree physiotherapy students and in double-degree sport sciences and physiotherapy students. Double-degree students showed higher levels of habituation and adaptability to the stressful event, with a better autonomic response. Academic achievements were significantly higher among single-degree students compared to the double-degree group.

The Impact of Nationality on the Psychophysiological Stress Response and Academic Fulfilment in the Final Degree Dissertation.

The aims of this study were: i. to analyze the effect of nationality on the psychophysiological stress response of physiotherapy last year students in their final degree dissertations; and ii. to analyze the relationship between the stress response and academic results according to nationality. We evaluated the autonomic stress response, cortical arousal, distress subjective perception, and objective and subjective academic fulfilment in Spanish, Italian, and French physiotherapy students during their final degree dissertation. Results showed a large anticipatory anxiety response before the dissertation in the three student groups. Only the Spanish group showed an increased tendency in the habituation process, reducing the psychophysiological stress response during the dissertation, while the Italian and French groups maintained a large sympathetic activation until the end of the dissertation. Cortical arousal and subjective perception of distress were similar in the three nationalities. In addition, no correlation between academic fulfilment and autonomic modulation was found. We concluded that there was no nationality effect in the psychophysiological stress response of physiotherapy last year students in their final degree dissertation, all of them showing a large anticipatory anxiety response.

Mitochondrial ion channels in pancreatic ß-cells: Novel pharmacological targets for the treatment of Type 2 diabetes.

Pancreatic beta-cells are central regulators of glucose homeostasis. By tightly coupling nutrient sensing and granule exocytosis, beta-cells adjust the secretion of insulin to the circulating blood glucose levels. Failure of beta-cells to augment insulin secretion in insulin-resistant individuals leads progressively to impaired glucose tolerance, Type 2 diabetes, and diabetes-related diseases. Mitochondria play a crucial role in ß-cells during nutrient stimulation, linking the metabolism of glucose and other secretagogues to the generation of signals that promote insulin secretion. Mitochondria are double-membrane organelles containing numerous channels allowing the transport of ions across both membranes. These channels regulate mitochondrial energy production, signalling, and cell death. The mitochondria of ß-cells express ion channels whose physio/pathological role is underappreciated. Here, we describe the mitochondrial ion channels identified in pancreatic ß-cells, we further discuss the possibility of targeting specific ß-cell mitochondrial channels for the treatment of Type 2 diabetes, and we finally highlight the evidence from clinical studies. LINKED ARTICLES: This article is part of a themed issue on Cellular metabolism and diseases. To view the other articles in this section visit http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/bph.v178.10/issuetoc.

The effect of final dissertation defense language, native vs. non-native, in the psychophysiological stress response of university students.

The objective of this study was to analyze the effect of final dissertation defense language in the autonomic stress response and cortical arousal of Physiotherapy students. We analysed in 110 students divided in 2 groups: native language (83) and non-native language (27), the autonomic stress response in four different moments of the dissertation defense; the cortical arousal and subjective perception of distress before and after the dissertation; and academic performance perception of students and the real performance obtained. Results showed a high sympathetic modulation at the beginning of the evaluation, which was maintained until the end of the evaluation in both groups. In addition, no decrease in cortical activity was found, possibly due to the short time of exposure to the stressful event. The final dissertation defense of Physiotherapy students produces an anticipatory anxiety response and a maintained high sympathetic nervous system activation during the defense, not negatively affecting cortical arousal, regardless of defending in native or non-native language.

Effectiveness of manual lymphatic drainage vs. perineal massage in secundigravida women with gestational oedema: A randomised clinical trial.

Perineal trauma (PT) may be considered as a very common injury during the childbirth. The incidence of PT was estimated in 30% to 85%, with 60% to 70% requiring suture. The present study was a prospective, single-blinded, randomised, clinical trial carried out from January 2015 to January 2016. For this study, 49 secundigravida women diagnosed with gestational oedema were recruited and randomly divided into two groups (A and B). Group A (n = 30) received the conventional treatment plus perineal massage and group B (n = 19) the conventional treatment plus manual lymphatic drainage (MLD). Visual analogue scale (VAS) and King Health's Questionnaire (KHQ) were performed to assess pain intensity and quality of life-related with urinary incontinence (UI). Pain intensity measurements showed statistically significant differences for a decrease after 30-weeks (P = .037), after 36-weeks (P = .000), and at the end of puerperium (P = .014) for MLD with respect to perineal massage group. Moreover, inter-groups repeated measures ANOVA for the values related statistically significant differences to the interaction of each applied treatment (perineal massage and MLD group, separately) over the pain intensity variable. MLD treatment reduced pain intensity with respect to perineal massage in secundigravida women with gestational oedema from 25-weeks of gestation to the end of puerperium.

Psychophysiological stress response of physiotherapy last year students in his final degree dissertation.

Final dissertation is considered one of the most stressful situations in university studies, but the stress response and its incidence in academic achievement is poor knowledge. The aim of the present research was to analyze the effect of the psychophysiological stress response of physiotherapy last year students in his final degree dissertation performance. We analyzed the heart rate variability (HRV) of 110 volunteers during their final degree dissertation to evaluate the autonomic stress response. Results showed a large anticipatory anxiety response of students prior to the final degree dissertation and a no habituation response, since low HRV results were found before and during the final degree dissertation. Only after the dissertation, the HRV increased. No relationship between autonomic modulation and the dissertation academic achievement were found. Final degree dissertation in physiotherapy students, produce a large anticipatory anxiety response. Autonomic modulation parameters do not present relationship with the final degree dissertation performance.

Tensiomyography, sonoelastography, and mechanosensitivity differences between active, latent, and control low back myofascial trigger points: A cross-sectional study.

The myofascial pain syndrome (MPS) is considered the most common musculoskeletal condition. The lumbopelvic pain (LPP) is established as one of the most prevalent musculoskeletal disorders. Nevertheless, previous research has not yet studied the contractibility changes by tensiomyography between myofascial trigger point (MTrP) types and normal tissue. Therefore, the aim of this study was to determine the tensiomyography, sonoelastography, and pressure pain threshold (PPT) differences between the palpation area of active and latent MTrPs with regards to control points in the lumbar erector spinae muscles of subjects with LPP. A cross-sectional descriptive study was performed. A convenience sample of 60 points (20 active MTrPs, 20 latent MTrPs, and 20 control points) was registered bilaterally in the lumbar erector spinae muscles from subjects with nonspecific LPP. The palpation order of active MTrPs, latent MTrPs, or control points was randomized for each side. The outcome assessors were blinded to the order or point type. The outcome measurements order for each point was sonoelastography manual strain index, tensiomyography, and PPT, separated by 15 minutes. Five contractile objective parameters were: maximal radial displacement (Dm), contraction time (Tc), sustain time (Ts), delay time (Td), and half-relaxation time (Tr). Tensiomyography parameters did not show any statistically significant difference (P > 0.05) between active MTrPs, latent MTrPs, and control points. Nevertheless, PPT and sonoelastography showed statistically significant differences (P < 0.05) between all point types, except for active and latent MTrPs PPT comparison (P = 0.091). Regarding the active MTrPs, a moderate positive correlation was observed between PPT and Dm (P = 0.047; τB = 0.450). Considering the control points, a moderate positive correlation was shown between sonoelastography and Td (P = 0.044; τB = 0.328). The tensiomyography contractile properties did not seem to show differences, while the sonoelastography and mechanosensitivity presented a higher stiffness and a lower PPT, respectively, between the palpation area of active and latent MTrPs with regards to control points in the lumbar erector spinae muscles of subjects with LPP. Considering the correlations, further research is needed regarding the muscle contractile properties modifications under MPS treatments, especially Dm in active MTrPs and Td in normal sites.

Effects of low glucose on carotid body chemoreceptor cell activity studied in cultures of intact organs and in dissociated cells.

The participation of the carotid body (CB) in glucose homeostasis and evidence obtained in simplified cultured CB slices or dissociated cells have led to the proposal that CB chemoreceptor cells are glucoreceptors. However, data generated in intact, freshly excised organs deny CB chemoreceptor cells' glucosensing properties. The physiological significance of the contention has prompted the present study, performed in a newly developed preparation of the intact CB organ in culture that maintains chemoreceptor cells' microenvironment. Chemoreceptor cells of intact CBs in culture retained their capacity to store, synthesize, and secrete catecholamine in response to hypoxia for at least 6 days. Aglycemia did not elicit neurosecretion in dissociated chemoreceptor cells or in intact CB in culture, but potentiated hypoxia-elicited neurosecretion, exclusively, in 1-day-old intact CB cultures and dissociated chemoreceptor cells cultured for 24 h. In fura 2-loaded cells, aglycemia (but not 1 mM) caused a slow Ca(2+)-dependent and nifedipine-insensitive increase in fluorescence at 340- to 380-nm wavelength emission ratio and augmented the fluorescent signal elicited by hypoxia. Association of nifedipine and KBR7943 (a Na(+)/Ca(2+) exchanger inhibitor) completely abolished the aglycemic Ca(2+) response. We conclude that chemoreceptor cells are not sensitive to hypoglycemia. We hypothesize that cultured chemoreceptor cells become transiently more dependent on glycolysis. Consequently, aglycemia would partially inhibit the Na(+)/K(+) pump, causing an increase in intracellular Na(+) concentration, and a reversal of Na(+)/Ca(2+) exchanger. This would slowly increase intracellular Ca(2+) concentration and cause the potentiation of the hypoxic responses. We discuss the nature of the signals detected by chemoreceptor cells for the CB to achieve its glycemic homeostatic role.